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Messages - Max!

Thanks everyone for your feedback. This is a pretty minor issue. . . if I just go a little slower than I would like I'm fine, and I think I am fine on descents without side-winds. I have a ton of shorter steep hills in my area. . . I'll try to force myself to ride loaded down a few of them in low wind conditions and maybe try a different set-up with only front bags and see how that all goes.

Stability, well I found myself not being able to go as fast as I would have liked with sideways wind gusts. The headset was freshly adjusted by my lbs and seems good. No shaking or shimmying just me trying to stay upright on big windy hills!

So I just completed my first multi- day self supported tour with a full camping setup and am looking for some advice. During big long descents i didn't have as much stability as i would have liked and am wondering if i should either a) use front panniers or b) get wider tires. To be clear, descents were still fun and I probably got going around 40mph, I just would like a little more stability.

Background: I have a surly crosscheck with 25c panaracer pasella tg tires and am only using a full size set of ortlieb rear panniers. My handlebars are pretty high for an fairly upright riding style. I weigh about 135, fully loaded bike was 50lb (roughly 30lb bike and 20lb panniers and gear). I can't imagine carrying more than I was on this trip.

Well I did the STP, so I must have gone over that bridge! I think that was the one where they stages everyone had had the goldwings bring people across in groups. Well I'll talk it over with the other rider and we'll figure it out.

Thanks AdventurePDX. . . Train tickets to Longview/Kelso have been bought and whle we could just get off the train early we do need to get to Astoria that same day as we have paid for hotel reservations too! We plan on camping the whole rest of the trip, but well, we figured we would treat ourselves on the first day and allow ourselves an opportunity to explore Astoria a little on day 2.

I've never been across the Lewis and Clark bridge (at least via bike) so I don't hold any specific grudges against it. . . what is so bad about it?

I'm planning on riding from the Amtrak station at Kelso/Longview to Astoria (and then down the coast) and I'm hoping for some advice, from what I can see there are three potential ways to make the trip from Kelso/Longview,WA to Astoria.

#1) Cross into Oregon right away across the Lewis and Clark Bridge - this looks like about 53 miles http://goo.gl/maps/tJ054

Actually getting to Burlington is really easy to get to! SO, Take the light rail from the airport downtown, then ride or use a bus (you can get a transfer from the light rail) to the University district and then follow the RSVP route.

Thanks Harper, I ended up taking the Victoria Cutter, well from DNTN to Victoria, explored the city and outlying areas (they have a really cool bike coop on the galloping goose trail BTW) spent the night and then rode to Sidney, took the ferry to San Juan Island, and spent two days biking around there (I've got friends with a hot tub who live there!) . . . and then doubled back on my route back home.

The weather was really nice with only a little bit of rain on my last day - and really the just intermittently during the last 15-20 miles.

It looks like there is just a ton of riding out there, so I will plan on taking your route in the near future.

The toughest part I'm having is getting to Anacordes to make the ferry and the routes I know of are:

* The RSVP route to Mt Vernon* The Kingston Edmonds Ferry and ride to Pt. Townsend, possibly camp, and then ride the length of the Widbey on my way to the ferry terminal to Orcas/San Juan/etc.* Bainbridge (or Bremerton ferry up)* Bus to Everett to Mt Vernon* Fancy Ferry (closed seasonally - specially this season)

Does anyone have any opinion on this one? I think the Kingston/Edmonds ferry seems like the best option for me. Unfortuantely, I found out the Pt. Townsend hostel closed down.

Another option is that you take the Seattle bainbridge ferry from downtown, ride to port townsend and take the keystone ferry, which takes you to the San juans. . . You would probably loop back to catch the same ferry back. . .